One of the major hurdles that Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) or for that matter any electric car maker faces is improving the amount of distance their car can go on a single charge. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not just the batteries which determine how long a car can go on a single charge, but also the car’s weight. Conventionally steel or aluminium has been used to make a car’s body, which adds a lot of weight to the car, but now Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is toying with the idea of using carbon fiber for its cars, rather than aluminium. Reuters published an article today revealing that officials from GS Caltex, a Koren carbon fiber company, will be meeting officials from Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) to discuss about carbon fiber supplies for Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s cars.
The article also revealed that GS Caltex is also in talks with Kia Motors to supply its long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT) for the sunroof frame in Sorento, a sports utility vehicle Kia Motors is launching later this month. Currently, the use of carbon fiber is limited to racing cars and expensive vehicles like BMW i3 electric vehicle, owing to the high cost of the material. Carbon fiber has the potential of reducing the weight of a car by 50%, although its still not clear in which models Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) plans to use the material. According to the sources quoted by Reuters, Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) and GS Caltex plan to meet later this month.
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